How exactly is it hard to get players to come to Toronto? We've had veteren players give up shots at cups to stay on a losing team because they didn't want to leave Toronto.
- RogerRoeper

I think the down turn in Leaf attraction started when CUJO went to Detroit. The Leafs have never been able to sign the premier UFA in any year. It is rather dramatic if you go back and make a list for each year and see who was available you might might be surprised to see how the best players seems to avoid Toronto.

For example look at the Jason Blake contract. There were good players available that year and all kinds of noise was made about the Leafs picking off a good one. But when everyone else had signed about the only player left was Blake and they gave him a crazy big contract. This may have actually been their best year for signings in the last six years or so. There may be some doubts now about the quality of the Dmen signed but there is no doubt other teams were strongly interested as well. Missing on the Sedins, I fear, is merely something we have to get used to. Brian Blowhard will always over promise and under deliver.

I think the down turn in Leaf attraction started when CUJO went to Detroit. The Leafs have never been able to sign the premier UFA in any year. It is rather dramatic if you go back and make a list for each year and see who was available you might might be surprised to see how the best players seems to avoid Toronto.

For example look at the Jason Blake contract. There were good players available that year and all kinds of noise was made about the Leafs picking off a good one. But when everyone else had signed about the only player left was Blake and they gave him a crazy big contract. This may have actually been their best year for signings in the last six years or so. There may be some doubts now about the quality of the Dmen signed but there is no doubt other teams were strongly interested as well. Missing on the Sedins, I fear, is merely something we have to get used to. Brian Blowhard will always over promise and under deliver.
- spatso

But when have they really tried to get the top UFA? Most of the time, it's a ridiculous contract being given out.

But when have they really tried to get the top UFA? Most of the time, it's a ridiculous contract being given out.
- RogerRoeper

Agreed. Our ownership has never cared enough to go out and get the top UFAs...didn't Gretzky want to sign in Toronto but he was obviously going to cost a forture and Ballard was quoted as saying "How many more seats will Gretzky sell?" as they were all sell out games anyway.

That was prior to the cap and now it's just a matter of who can afford to give the highest demand players the most money and still fit under the cap.

You are correct. Ontario also has very low crime rates, many lower than Quebec.
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/Legal04b-eng.htm



http://www.statcan.gc.ca/.../060720/dq060720b-eng.htm
- Doppleganger

Ya, I saw that but couldn't find a cool graph like you did. I wonder where the crime in both our provinces is highest though and how Montreal, Toronto, QC and Ottawa rank versus the averages...

As for the living in Quebec debate, I'll admit I haven't lived in any other city but the only problems you face here as a citizen in day-to-day life is transport/traffic (and I KNOW that's worse in Toronto) and some infrastructure/road work issues.

Ya, I saw that but couldn't find a cool graph like you did. I wonder where the crime in both our provinces is highest though and how Montreal, Toronto, QC and Ottawa rank versus the averages...

As for the living in Quebec debate, I'll admit I haven't lived in any other city but the only problems you face here as a citizen in day-to-day life is transport/traffic (and I KNOW that's worse in Toronto) and some infrastructure/road work issues.
- Prax

I spent a day in Downtown Montreal last month, walking between Museums, Old Montreal and Shwartz's. I saw a few panhandlers, perhaps less than what I would see in the Byward market in Ottawa.............but I really enjoyed my day there and plan to make a few more trips in the Future.

It's been a while since I've been downtown in toronto, perhaps the 80's, and remember being openly propositioned by hookers on Yonge street. I drive through toronto at least four or five times a year, and the traffic on the 401 is horrific and can't imagine what it would be like downtown. Would like to visit the HHOF some day, so I may just take the train down for a day or two and avoid fighting traffic and I assume high parking rates.

That's because cops in western canada act like they're american cops.

Cops in QC/Ontario/Maritimes don't get anal for a petty crime. Just go home and don't do it again.

That's because cops in western canada act like they're american cops.

Cops in QC/Ontario/Maritimes don't get anal for a petty crime. Just go home and don't do it again.
- donkeykong79

They'll get anal about specific traffic violations. I lol'd when I heard they were pulling over bus drivers because they weren't wearing seatbelts in Montreal

Agreed. Our ownership has never cared enough to go out and get the top UFAs...didn't Gretzky want to sign in Toronto but he was obviously going to cost a forture and Ballard was quoted as saying "How many more seats will Gretzky sell?" as they were all sell out games anyway.

That was prior to the cap and now it's just a matter of who can afford to give the highest demand players the most money and still fit under the cap.
- Leafy_84

I think that is wrong as an assumption. I think the Leafs chased Chara, they made it very known that they wanted the Sedins this past year. They were interested in Scott Niedemayer, so, to say the Leafs really did not want top UFA's is a bit of denial. I the years they signed Blake or Mogilny there was great talent available but the Leafs could not get any of the really good players and overpaid to get the lesser lights but still having to pay extra.

Toronto's crime rate is very low given it's population.
- RogerRoeper

Stupid Roger, you just proved us all that you have no idea what the word "rate" means.

They'll get anal about specific traffic violations. I lol'd when I heard they were pulling over bus drivers because they weren't wearing seatbelts in Montreal
- Prax

I've never heard that one before..

My friend was drunk driving and crashed into a police car causing pretty significant damage to the police car. He blew a .13. He got himself a good lawyer and all he got was a 1000$ fine. No criminal charges.

In the states I don't even want to imagine what you get. Or western canada for that matter. Stupid Harper.

I've never heard that one before..

My friend was drunk driving and crashed into a police car causing pretty significant damage to the police car. He blew a .13. He got himself a good lawyer and all he got was a 1000$ fine. No criminal charges.

In the states I don't even want to imagine what you get. Or western canada for that matter. Stupid Harper.
- donkeykong79

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/...s-drivers-seat-belts.html


While I understand it's against the law, the cop sat in the same spot and gave a bunch of drivers tickets probably just so he could fill his quota...

And ya, your friend should be in jail

Stupid Roger, you just proved us all that you have no idea what the word "rate" means.
- jeffyjones

This was unnecessary.

I've never heard that one before..

My friend was drunk driving and crashed into a police car causing pretty significant damage to the police car. He blew a .13. He got himself a good lawyer and all he got was a 1000$ fine. No criminal charges.

In the states I don't even want to imagine what you get. Or western canada for that matter. Stupid Harper.
- donkeykong79

So in your mind........all the bad laws that have been on the books for generations, are all Harper's fault????? newsflash brainiac.......they've only been in power (in a minority situation) for only 4 years. Then need the help of other parties to pass anything

The Current government has strengthened more laws, to penalize criminals, than all governments combined in decades.

And any time there is a law being stymied, it is being done by the LIBERAL dominated Senate. The liberals and NDPers were opposed to raising the age of consent, for example.

The Harper Government is trying to get rid of the the "2 for 1" credit........but who is trying to stop it........the Liberals in the Senate. They want a "compromise" at 1.5 to 1 ............advantage still for criminals.

Perhaps you should educate yourself before just blaming the Current Government..............open up your eyes and then you will see that it's the Liberal who want to molly coddle criminals and release them early onto the streets to re offend.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/...008/05/01/crime-bill.html

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/...edit-limited.html?ref=rss

So in your mind........all the bad laws that have been on the books for generations, are all Harper's fault????? newsflash brainiac.......they've only been in power (in a minority situation) for only 4 years. Then need the help of other parties to pass anything

The Current government has strengthened more laws, to penalize criminals, than all governments combined in decades.

And any time there is a law being stymied, it is being done by the LIBERAL dominated Senate. The liberals and NDPers were opposed to raising the age of consent, for example.

The Harper Government is trying to get rid of the the "2 for 1" credit........but who is trying to stop it........the Liberals in the Senate. They want a "compromise" at 1.5 to 1 ............advantage still for criminals.

Perhaps you should educate yourself before just blaming the Current Government..............open up your eyes and then you will see that it's the Liberal who want to molly coddle criminals and release them early onto the streets to re offend.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/...008/05/01/crime-bill.html

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/...edit-limited.html?ref=rss
- Doppleganger

Actually I have been very impressed with Harper's government. I do believe it is the direct result of his own style and he has been a strong force of moderation over the yahoos who are part of his caucus. The difficulty with the conservatives is that one on one they tend to be nice guys, but put them in a room together and they turn into a pack of dogs who sit around and howl at the moon.

The last thing that Canadians should ever do is believe that somehow tougher sentencing and enforcement action will have some kind of impact on crime. There is no correlation. The US has the highest crime rate in the world, they also have the highest per capita rate of detention of any country. The US is just now beginning to explore the wisdom of Canada's softer approach in the enforcement of criminal sanctions relating to recreational drug possession. It should dramatically reduce sentencing and incarceration rates.

Thank God this is a hockey blog and we don't have to talk politics or recidivism.

They'll get anal about specific traffic violations. I lol'd when I heard they were pulling over bus drivers because they weren't wearing seatbelts in Montreal
- Prax

While Toronto cops just prefer anal..

I spent a day in Downtown Montreal last month, walking between Museums, Old Montreal and Shwartz's. I saw a few panhandlers, perhaps less than what I would see in the Byward market in Ottawa.............but I really enjoyed my day there and plan to make a few more trips in the Future.

It's been a while since I've been downtown in toronto, perhaps the 80's, and remember being openly propositioned by hookers on Yonge street. I drive through toronto at least four or five times a year, and the traffic on the 401 is horrific and can't imagine what it would be like downtown. Would like to visit the HHOF some day, so I may just take the train down for a day or two and avoid fighting traffic and I assume high parking rates.
- Doppleganger

if only

While Toronto cops just prefer anal..
- Big T

I just can't argue with this statement....

if only
- glucker

At first I read it as "openly positioned hookers"

At first I read it as "openly positioned hookers"
- Prax

you know, he's the 2nd ottawa native who I've seen make a comment like that.

Last year on a bus from London, the guy I was sitting with was talking about how a hooker near a downtown motel was trying to hook up with him.


I think Ottawanians are kinda prudish... which explains why their city is so goddamn boring

you know, he's the 2nd ottawa native who I've seen make a comment like that.

Last year on a bus from London, the guy I was sitting with was talking about how a hooker near a downtown motel was trying to hook up with him.


I think Ottawanians are kinda prudish... which explains why their city is so goddamn boring
- glucker

When teams struggle their fans turn to idle chatter like trying to insult the city that another team represents. If you find yourself slagging another city rather than about the hockey team it is probably because the team you support is losing.

you know, he's the 2nd ottawa native who I've seen make a comment like that.

Last year on a bus from London, the guy I was sitting with was talking about how a hooker near a downtown motel was trying to hook up with him.


I think Ottawanians are kinda prudish... which explains why their city is so goddamn boring
- glucker

Why are you so angry?

Why are you so angry?
- spatso

He's not...but his massive furrowed unibrow just make him look that way.

you know, he's the 2nd ottawa native who I've seen make a comment like that.

Last year on a bus from London, the guy I was sitting with was talking about how a hooker near a downtown motel was trying to hook up with him.


I think Ottawanians are kinda prudish... which explains why their city is so goddamn boring
- glucker

Ottawa is the best kept secrets in all of Canada. It has one of the best qualities of life in the whole Continent!!

Not to big, not to small..........no really bad traffic issues when compared to most cities in the Country.

I was not able to see last night's game. How did Kessel and Leafs play?

Kessel looked terrific. He was all over the ice. I was pretty shocked he didn't look more rusty. The guy unfortunitely didn't get a goal, but they come come if he keeps playing like that.

And he played over 7 minutes more than his avg. in Boston. I said all along his ice time, not Marc Savard was the key for him getting even better stats in Toronto.